Una: On 70th Independence Day,Muslim community members came in large numbers to support the Dalit community in their campaign.

The Dalit found solace in their Muslim brothers as they are also going from the same pain as that of the Muslims. This is the reason why the slogan “Bade maze ki baat hai, Dalit Muslim saath hai”and “Dalits-Muslims bhai bhai” (Dalit Muslims are brothers)echoed through the dusty town on the streets when both Dalit-Muslims marched hand in hand.

“Woh Muslims ko murda gay ke naam pe marte aur Dalits ko zinda gay ke naam pe marte hain,” (They kill Muslims in the name of dead cows and Dalits in the name of live cows), said one Musabhai.

People emerged from the Mosque and thousands of Dalit and Muslims chanted slogans during Dalit protest rally in Una on Monday.

They have gathered in Una on the occasion of the country’s 70th Independence Day to protest against the atrocities and discrimination.

Slogans like “Ek dhakka aur do zatiwad ki hathkadi tod do”(With one more jerk, break away the handcuffs of casteism) were heard at the gathering.

The week-long rally which started from Ahmedabad by Una Dalit Atachiyar Ladat Samiti (UDALS), culminated in Una, the place where some dalits where brutally beaten by cow vigilantes for skinning a dead cow last month sparking outrage.

Radhika Vemula, mother of dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in her address said, “I have not got justice for my son. He had to commit suicide just because he was dalit.

“But it is good to see that Dalit movement in Gujarat has forced the chief minister Anandiben Patel to resign. I have come here so that no other Dalit children face what my son had to suffer.”

Lawyer-turned politician and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani who led the march, told the huge gathering regarding PM Modi’s statement given on Gau Rakshak and Dalit atrocities.

“Modiji lambe samay se gai ki dum pakad kar khel rahe the ab dum phanda lagne lagi hai” (Mr. Modi had been playing with cow’s tail all this while, now the tail has become a noose tightening around his neck).

He also demanded that they will launch a mega ‘Rail Roko Andolan’ stir if their demand for granting five acres of land for each family is not met by Gujarat government within one month.

Mevani said that there will be a war for land in which along with Dalits, Muslims and Adivasis will also fight. (Zameen ke liye jung hogi, jung me Musalman bhi honge aadivasi bhi honge).

A large number of Muslims and representatives of many Muslim organizations were present in the rally.